Method for separating the flesh from the skin of fish



@ Hum@ wllfh METHOD FOR SEPARATING THE FLESH FROM THE SKIN OF' FISHoriginell Filed Aug. 19. 1.947 s Sheng-sham; s

GQTTFWED E. HUEE G. E. HUBE 5 Sheets-.Sheet 4I Original Filed Aug. 19,1947 o MEW www W Ew, DM/ Fu R l Va T. T. om ,V R0 m 8 atto/mw@ uu S I FF O N I K S E H T M O on EF E H s um HF .E E@ GG N T.. T A Dn An Dl E SDn O F D O H T E M wg., M956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 19,1947 wu www @@T'ITVW Ri E. HMB@ United States Patent O METHOD FORSEPARATNG THE FLESH FROM THE SKIN F FISH Gottfried Erwin Habe,Bellingham, Wash., assigner to Pacific Laboratories Inc., SouthBellingham, Wash., a corporation of Washington Original applicationAugust 19, 1947, Serial No. 769,496, now Patent No. 2,655,688,- datedOctober 20, '1953. Divided and this application September 1953, SerialNo. 380,185

Z Claims. (Cl. 17-45) The: present' invention is concerned With methodsfor seperating the liesh from the skin of fish, and this application isa division of my copending application Serial No'. 769,496, filed August19, 1947, now Patent 2,655,688, issued October 20, 1953; The apparatusdisclosed is particularly designed for use with fish boning and slittingapparatus of the type disclosed in U. S. patent to Ralph M'. Berglund,No. 2,612,652, entitled Apparatus and Methods for Boning and SlittingFish. In the patent justz mentioned, methods and apparatus are describedwithin fish of varying size are passed through special apparatusdesigned to accurately remove the backbone from a` whole but ventrallyslit fish (the head having been previously removed, as is customary) andare simultaneously split in the dorsal-ventral plane from head to tail,whereby neatly separated fish halves are delivered in` proper conditionfor removal of the skin, by the apparatfus of the present invention.

It will be understood that the object in mind, in the development of theBerglund method and apparatus referredv to, and the method of thepresent invention, is to prepare fish for canning in the form of neatsections of flesh,V in no way crushed or bruised, theV flesh beingentirely free of the skin, or any parts or bits thereof, Whereby thecanned sh may have a fresh and delightful flavor heretofore not possibleto provide, when using methods and apparatus as were yavailable in theprior art. In general, the object just referred to has been accomplishedby treating the fish with mechanisms which are automaticallyaccommodated to the shape of the fish, the mechanisms accommodatingthemselves to` successive fish which may vary in size, the generaldesign of the appara tus being such that the various operations areperformed in a manner so accurate and even that there is little or nopossibility of crushing or bruising the fish in any way.

The apparatus shown herein comprises a frame and a continuously rotatingdrum having suitable clamping means for engaging fish halves by the tailat one side ofthe frame, and means on` the opposite side of the frameincluding a knife presented tangentially toward the drum which neatlysevers and separates the flesh from the skin. It will be understood thatthe fish halves which are skinned by the present machine are of the typepreviously prepared by the apparatus described in the said Berglundpatent, and that the fishr halves are carried on the rotary drum withtheir outer or skin sides against the face of the drum and in adheringrelation thereto, Whereby the knife is enabled to separate the fleshfrom the skin, leaving the skin adheringto the surface of the drumOutstanding` and inventive accomplish- ICC ments reside in the manner inwhich the fish is engaged by the clamps in the drum, in the manner inwhich these clamps operate, and in the manner in which they present thefish to the knife for removal of the fiesh from the skin. Similarly,inventive accomplishments reside in the manner in which the skin issubsequently removed or discharged from` the periphery of the drum.

An important object of the invention is to provide a yieldableself-adjusting guiding mechanism associated with the flesh removingknife, which applies even and restraining` pressure to the fish as it ispresented to the knife, whereby the skin is smoothed out in unwrinkledstretched condition against and firmly held in adhering engagement withthe surface of the drum as the reciproeating knife acts to neatlyseparate the fiesh from the skin.

Another object of the invention, and one which is intimately associatedwith the equipment just referred to, is the provision ofA a drum whichis slightly crowned to accommodate itself to variations in the thicknessof the skin of the fish between its lateral sides and those portions ofthe skin adjacent the dorsal and ventral sides, whereby the skin ismaintained in flattened condition against the drum at the time thestraight edge of the knife operates to separate the flesh from the skin.

The refinements just referred to are of considerable importance, ithaving been indicated that the general purpose of the invention is tomake possible delivery to the home, in cans, fish from which all` fiavorimpairing elements have been completely eliminated.

The objectives referred to are in part accomplished by mounting theflesh, removing knife on a side of the drum some distance downwardlyfrom the top thereof, so that the fish are moved past the knife as theymove downwardly with the periphery of the drum. The fish are thus sweptpast the knife in a positive manner.` The knife is presentedtangentially tothe drum, with its cutting edge directed upwardly inposition to engage between the skin and flesh of the fish, as the latteris swept past the knife inthe downward direction. It will be understoodthat the fish are conveyed around the drum by suitable gripping meanswhich grasp their tails, and which carry them tail-end first around thedrum end past the skin removing knife. It will be understood that theedge of the knife is adjusted in closely spaced relation from theperiphery of the drum so that it will permit passage of the skin betweenthe knife and the drum but will not pass the flesh of the fish.

Immediately associated with and just above the cutting edge of theknife, suitable means are provided to yieldably urge the fish halvesagainst the drum, and to support said halves against any `undesirabledisplacement, either laterally or vertically. This mechanism is in theform of a plurality of self-adjusting yieldable fingers which areindependently mounted with their free pressure applying ends presentedtoward the periphery of the drum. These fingers accommodate themselvesto the particular size of fishwhich is being traversed, and after therigidly held tail end of the fish passes under these fingers, they pressagainst and` restrain the fish to a degree just sufficient to insurethat it will be evenly laid and stretched against the periphery of thedrum without folds in the skin, yet without any breaks therein, wherebythe knife can` effect a tidy separation of the flesh from the skin, forthe purposes previously referred to.

As the description herein progresses, it Will be observed that there isa distinct cooperationibetween the yielding fingers and the knife, theformer acting to smooth the skin in unwrinkled state on the drumimmediately before the knife comes into operation, as well as during theoperation of the knife. Also, the tail clamping mechanism bends the fishat its tail for presentation to the knife, and cooperates with theyielding fingers to keep the skin stretched on the drum whilev the knifeis acting. The crown of the drum is also important in its cooperationduring the operations under discussion, as well as the skin engagingauxiliary roller to be referred to hereinafter.

The apparatus disclosed herein is thus important in its novelcombination of elements including the jaws which pull and carry the fisharound the drum tail-end first, together with the yieldable fingerswhich exert both vertical and horizontal controlling pressures againstthe fish and toward the crowned drum, together with the oscillatingflesh removing knife. By reason of the cooperation of the parts justreferred to, every inch of the area of the skin of the fish is undercontrol at the time the flesh is removed, whereby it is possible todeliver a product having a flavor which is not impaired by the skin, orany parts thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial side elevational and sectional axialview of the drum, showing the relative positions of the feeding andflesh removing stations, and disclosing the operation of the fish tailclamping mechanisms within the drum;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine, partially broken away toindicate the operation of certain of the parts within the drum;

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view through thedrum, looking inwardly from the delivery end of the machine, the sectionbeing taken generally along the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detailed View, showing one manner in which the fleshremoving knife may be reciprocated;

Figure 6 is a detailed view, partly in section, showing the mounting andoperation of the flesh removing knife;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed view of the mounting of a pressureapplying roller which engages the drum just beyond the flesh removingknife to hold the skin against the periphery of the drum, taken alongthe line 7 7 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail View of the tail gripping mechanism, theview being taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a similar enlarged detailed view, being taken along the line9 9 of Figure 2;

Figures l() and 11 are enlarged diagrammatic views illustrating one typeof valve mechanism which may be utilized in opening and closing the tailgripping clamp, and in supplying air to blow the skin from the peripheryof the drum after the flesh has been removed therefrom;

Figures 12 through 16 are fragmentary diagrammatic views looking axiallytoward different parts of the periphery of the drum, and showing thetravel of a fish from the delivery table where its tail is clamped, overthe drum and through the flesh removing station, and thence to theterminal station of a cycle where the denuded skin is blown from thedrum;

Figure 17 is a horizontal sectional View taken approximately along theline 17 17 of Figure l5, illustrating the manner in which the yieldingpressure applying fingers evenly engage the non-uniform fish half tomaintain the skin in intimate adhering contact with the crowned surfaceof the drum;

Figure 18 is an enlarged front view of the yieldable guiding fingerswhich control the fish as it is presented to the flesh removing knife,the position from which this view is taken being indicated by the line18 18 of Figure 1;

Figure 19 is a face View of a type of cam which may be used to operatethe air valves of Figures l0 and 1l in order to properly open and closethe clamp of the tail gripping mechanism;

Figure 20 is a face view of a modified apparatus which may be employedto control the operation of the tail gripping mechanism. This lapparatusmay comprise a two-way acting cam to positively actuate the mechanism,as distinguished from the previously referred to apparatus whichutilizes spring action for a part of the operation. This view is takenalong the line 20 20 of Figure 2l, and

Figure 21 is a detailed sectional view of the two-way cam mechanismshown in Figure 2O and indicating the connection between the cam and theelements positioned within the drum.

The relative arrangement of the stations is perhaps best disclosed inFigures 1 and 2. On one side of the machine is the feeding stationgenerally indicated in Figure 1 by the arrow extending from the letterX, and on the opposite side of the machine is the Skinning stationgenerally designated by the arrow extending from the letter Y. The drumis generally indicated as D and it is mounted in a frame for turningmovement with a shaft10 which turns in any suitable type of bearings 12(Figure 4) carried on horizontal angle members 14 at opposite ends ofthe frame. four corners of the machine, which extend for a considerabledistance above the horizontal angle members 14, 'and at their top endsthey are provided with suitable cross members 18 which provide a topplatform on which is mounted the main drive motor M. Through aconventional gear box (Figure 1) and through the agency of a drivepulley 22 which is mounted on a shaft extending from the gear box 20, abelt Z4 is driven, this belt, in turn, being connected at its lower endaround a larger pulley 26 which is fixed on the shaft 10 at one endthereof as shown at Figure 3. Any suitable and conventional means may beemployed to govern or adjust the speed at which the drum is turned. Thearrangement is such that the motor M will drive the drum D continuouslyin a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1.

At one side of the machine, there is a delivery table E, which table maybe arranged to receive the boned and slit fish halves from the machineof the Berglund.

patent previously referred to. The conveyor C (Figure l) may beconsidered as the conveyor shown in said application which delivers thefish halves from that machine, the terminal end of this conveyor beingshown in Figure 1 disposed so as to deliver the fish halves onto thetable E.

The inner edge 30 of the table E is disposed in very close relation tothe periphery of the drum D (Figure 3). In alignment with the Working orcrowned area of the drum, the edge 30 of the table E is rearwardlyrecessed as at 32 to provide a space through which a tail gripping plate39 protruding from the drum may sweep, in order to engage the tail of afish which is manually presented to the drum. The tail end of the fishis positioned overlying the recess 32 in the edge of the table. Bymechanism to be hereinafter described in detail, a tail gripping plateis projected from the periphery of the drum through an opening therein,just prior to the time when this opening moves upwardly past the tableE. This protruding plate passes through the cut-out 32 and incooperation with a suitable clamp it grips the tail of the fish andcarries it around the drum tail-end first. The flesh removing knife K isshown in Figures 1 and 2 positioned at a point substantially 60 belowthe top point of rotation of the drum. The knife K has a cutting edge 34which is reciprocated in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum.This knife edge is mounted in anv adjustable manner, so that it may bepresented almost" tangentially to the drum and spaced from the peripheryThe frame comprises suitable legs 16 at thel anemie thereof a minutedistance which is only slightly `greater than the thickness of the skinof the fish.

Yieldable pressure guides for holding the skin against the drum and forproperly presenting the flesh to the knife K, are shown at G. Theseguides comprise a plurality of yieldably mounted fingers whichconstitute a iiexible barrier in the path of the fish, sections of thebarrier being capable of displacement by the fish while pressing thefish back against the surface of the drum just as it is presented to theknife K. The flesh of the fish is stripped up over the knife K anddropped thereby onto the conveyor L, which is arranged to carry thefiesh to the cutter or to the can filling machine. The denuded skin iscarried on around on the exterior of the drum through the lower part ofits cycle, and by the mechanisms which will later 4be described indetail, the skin is ejected or blown from the drum by a blast of air atthe time the tail gripping clamp is opened in preparation for receivinganother fish at the feeding station.

I have shown herein a drum of such size that two diametrically oppositeclamping mechanisms may be mounted therein, so that in a lateral planethrough the drum, two fish may be skinned for each rotation of the drum.However, it will be understood that the size of the drum may be alteredin order to accommodate a greater number of gripping mechanisms of thetype described. On the other hand, a simple machine might include only asingle gripping mechanism in a lateral plane through the machine, and itwill sufiice to describe only one of' such mechanisms, with theunderstanding that the design may be altered as desired, with a greaternumber of such mechanisms mounted for operation in proper timedrelation.

In the case of the present machine, I have found it more convenient tohave a pair of gripping mechanisms mounted in alignment, and spacedaxially along the drum, as indicated in Figure 3. Such an arrangement ismost convenient for cooperation with a boning and slitting machine ofthe type described in the said Berglund patent, which produces two linesof fish halves carried away from that machine in two lines and thuspresented in two lines to the respective gripping mechanisms of themachine o-f the present invention, as will be apparent from Figure 3. Itwill be understood that the oscillating knife K, guiding fingers G, andother associated parts, are

arranged in alignment with the crowned working surfaces of both areas ofthe drum D, as shown in Figure 3, whereby two lines of fish maysimultaneously move through the machine for treatment.

Referring to Figures and 1l, the tail clamping mechanism is generallydesignated by the letter I. It comprises a non-pivoted plate 39constituting the outer end of a slide 43 and a fixed pivoted clamp 42.The pivoted clamp is operated by the piston of an air cylinder in amanner hereinafter described, to grip the tail of a fish as the grippingmechanism passes the feed table. That is, the plate 39 passes throughthe recess 32 in the feed table and as it engages the tail of the fish,suitably timed pneumatic mechanism causes the clamp 42 to pivotclockwise (Figures l0 and 11) to grip the tail against the plate 39. Theengaging faces of members 42 and 39 are suitably serrated, therespective serrations being in staggered relationship with respect toone another, to insure effective gripping of the tail of the fish.

It will be understood that the gripping members 39 and 42, as well asthe associated pneumatic cylinder for operating the clamp 42, arearranged as a unitary as sembly capable of substantially radialmovements with respect to the axis of the drum. The face of the `drum inradial alignment with each assembly is provided with openings 46 therein(Figures 2, 3 and 16), and as the assembly approaches the feed table E,it is moved outwardly to project the plate 39 beyond the surface of thedrum in such position as to pass through the slot 32 `in 6 the edge ofthe feed table to engage `and lpick up the tail c'f a fish which willhave been placed in proper position. At the time that plate 39 engagesthe tail, clamp 42 is closed by the timed action of the pneumaticmechanism, whereupon the fish is carried upwardly around the drumtail-end first. Shortly after the opening 46 passes beyond the slot 32of the feed table, mechanical mechanisms hereinafter described cause thegripping assembly 'to be retracted radially inwardly in order to leavethe surface of the drum clear, so that the fish may be carried with itstail gripped within the drum past the guides G, the Skinning knife K,and the other elements present at the Skinning station. Thereafter, andas the opening 46 again approaches the feed table, the mechanismsreferred to cause the gripping assembly yto again be projected outwardlyso that the plate 39 will be in position Vto engage the next fish in theline.

The gripping assembly `is supported on .a fixed substantially radiallyextending saddle plate 50 (Figure 4), this plate being held in fixedposition in a radial plane extending toward the lower part of theopening 46 by means of a web 52 (Figures 2 and 4) which is flanged as at56 `and bolted to a plate 58 which is, in turn, welded (at S9) againstthe inner face of the drum, as shown in Figure 2. The saddle plate 50together with the drum face opening 46 defines a radial pocket extendinginwardly from the drum surface. The inward continuation of plate 39constitutes a slide 4i) which is capable of radial reciprocation on thesaddle plate 5l), this slide extending inwardly almost to the center ofthe drum and having a central longitudinal slot 60 cut in its lower facewhich `fits over and is guided by the supporting plate Si) (Figure 8,).Suitable opposite longitudinal retaining plates 62 are bolted to thelower face of the slide 40 and they extend inwardly beneath and inengagement with the lower face of the supporting plate 50 in order tohold the slide on the supporting plate. Near the forward end of theslide 40, and just inwardly of the tail engaging teeth thereon, aninverted U-shaped frame 64 is secured (Figures 4 and 9), and clamp 42 ispivoted adjacent its lower end, as at 66 (Figure 2) between the`opposite legs of the frame 64. Each side of the clamp 42 is in the formof a segment of a circle, and at its inner corner it is pivoted, as at68, to the forward end 70 `of a piston rod 72 which extends from theouter end of a cylinder 74. It will be understood that the air cylinder74 is carried bodily on slide 4i), being pivoted, as at 76, between tbeupper ears 7S of a pair of brackets which are bolted to opposite sidesof the slide as shown particularly in Figure 2. The brackets justmentioned have opposite lower ears/80, and between these ears asupporting boss 82 is mounted for turning movement on the pivot 84. Thisboss serves as the pivotal connection with a rod 86 which, in turn, ispivoted as at 88 to the outer end of a rocker lever 96 which is keyed toa rock shaft 92 that extends outwardly through the end of the drum. Therock shaft is operated by the main cam assembly of the machine toactuate the gripping assemblies in their outward and inward movements atthe proper time.

As shown in Figures 2 and 8, the connecting rod 86 is attached to thepivoted boss 82 in an adjustable manner by means of nuts 90 threaded vonthe connecting rod on opposite sides of said boss. Continuing withFigure 2, there are tension springs 93 connected `at their opposite endsto the lower bracket ear and to the fixed supporting web 52,respectively, the action of said springs being to normally bias `thegripping assembly, comprising the slide 40, pivoted clamp 42 andcylinder 74, toward its outer position, whereas the action of the rockshaft 92 and the rocking lever 90 is to draw the assembly inwardly atproper times after the tail of a fish has been clamped, and during theperiod when this fish is being carried past the mechanisms which assistin removing the flesh from the skin of the fish. It will be understoodthat any suitable mechanism may b'e provided to rock the shaft 92 `atthe proper time to accomplish the above purposes, and it will be furtherunderstood that any suitable cooperating means may be designed Iandprovided, and coordinated in timed relation, to operate the pneumaticsystem which operates the clamp 42. This means should close clamp 42 atthe proper time when the gripping assembly is moved outwardly, maintainclamp 42 in closed position throughout the operation of the deviceswhich remove the flesh from the skin of the fish, and then at the propercoordinated time, release the clamp 42 in order that the skin of thefish may be discharged from the drum and the gripping mechanism thusprepared to receive the tail of the next fish to be skinned, all ashereinafter described.

The main cam A of the machine is conveniently mounted beyond theexterior of the drum at the end thereof opposite the pulley or othermeans which applies power to turn the drum. This cam has 'a peripheralhigh por tion 100 and a low portion 102. The high portion governs thatpart of the cycle immediately before, through, and beyond the Skinningstation. The cam A is maintained in fixed (but adjustable) position withrespect to the turning shaft of the drum, being secured to a retainingplate 106 which is journalled around the main drum shaft, the retainingplate being, in turn, rigidly connected with the frame of the machine asat 108 (Figure 4). The main cam is secured to plate 106 by set screws asshown in Figure 4, these screws extending through elongated circularslots 165 in the cam plate, whereby the cam may be adjusted to regulatethe timing of the machine.

The rock shaft 92 extends beyond the end of the drum, and is journalledin the end wall as at 110 (Figure 4). At its extending end, it carries`a lever 112 rigidly attracted thereto (Figures 1 and 3), this levercarrying a cam roller or follower 114 which is maintained in suitablecontact with the surfaces 100 and 102 of the main cam at all times. Forexample, the action of the spring 93 (Figure 2) should be strong enoughto urge the cam roller 114 (Figure 1) against the main cam surfaces atall times.

It will be apparent from the above description that those skilled in theart may construct properly timed cam mechanisms as described, wherein,and referring to Figure 1, the gripping assembly will be retractedduring that part of the cycle of rotation of the drum when the camroller 114 is on the high surface 100 of the main cam (when the opening46 has moved from the feed table and until it has passed beyond theSkinning station), 'and wherein said assembly will be moved outwardlyafter the opening 46 has traversed the Skinning station and until it haspassed beyond the feeding station, by the contact of cam roller 114 withthe low surface 102 of the main cam.

As stated before, the gripping assembly includes a pneumatic cylinder 74and associated system, which is operated to pivot the clamp 42 intoclosing relationship with the plate 39 of the tail of a fish is pickedup at the feeding station. This pneumatic system is operable to keepthese parts in gripping relationship throughout the major portion of thecycle of the drum, the denuded skin being released as the opening 46 inthe drum again approaches the feeding table. Referring to Figures and1l, there is an air piston 120 which is mounted for reciprocation in thecylinder 74. This piston is connected with the rod 72, previouslymentioned, to rock the clamp 42 around its pivot 66. The piston 120 iscontrolled by any suitable type of valve V, which comprises a housing122 which is attached in any suitable manner to the end face of thedrum. The position of the mounting for the valves V in the end drum isshown in Figure 3. In the arrangement shown, there are two of thesevalves, one for each pair of axially aligned gripping assemblies, andeach may be positioned approximately mid-way between the opposite rockshafts 92.

Leading into the housing .of `each valve is a suitable air inlet pipe130, this pipe being connected with a bore 132 extending longitudinallythrough the main drum shaft from the outer end vthereof (Figure 4), thebore being in communication with a pipe or tube 134 leading from anysource of air under pressure, the connection being made by anappropriate fitting 136 on the end of the drum shaft. Leading from the-main valve housing, are a pair of high pressure flexible pipes 140 and142 communicating, respectively, with the interior of the cylinder- 74at the outer and inner ends of the latter, i. e., so that the pressureof air supplied through said pipes will act on| opposite sides of thepiston. There is a suitable valve member 144 mounted for reciprocatingmovements in a bore 146 within the valve housing, this valve memberhaving suitable spaced abutments thereon, as is well known in the art,to control the admission of air to and exhaust of air from the oppositeends of the cylinder 74 as illustrated in the drawings. When the valvemember is moved inwardly in the bore 146, as shown in Figure 10, theabutments thereon provide for the supply of high pressure air from pipe130 to pipe 142, thus moving the piston outwardly to close clamp .42against plate 39. At the same time, the action of the valve is to permitatmospheric discharge from the outer end of the cylinder 74, via pipe140 and outwardly from the valve housing through the port 148.

When the valve member 144 is moved to the left, as in Figure ll, highpressure air from inlet pipe will pass through pipe to the right-handend of cylinder 74, and will force the piston 120 inwardly, thus openingthe clamp 42. Obviously, the construction of the control valve could bearranged to permit exhaust from the inner end of the cylinder 74 on thisstroke of the piston, by effecting suitable connections in the valvehousing with respect to the pipe 142. For example, air could exhaustoutwardly through the righthandend of the housing.

As has been indicated above, it is desirable to provide pneumatic meansfor blowing the denuded skin with violence from the surface of the drumat some stage prior to the return of the opening 46 to the feed table E.Any suitable type of pneumatic control may be provided for this purpose,and as one example thereof, I have used the exhaust from the cylinder 74on the clamp opening stroke of the piston 120 to provide this blast. Asshown in Figures 10 and 11, a pipe 150 may be connected into the innerend of the valve housing 122, and this air pipe is arranged to join witha longitudinal blast passage 152 which extends outwardly through and tothe end of the fixed plate 39 (Figure 11). The end of the blast port 152is also shown in Figure 4. With this arrangement, and when the opening46 in the drum is again approaching the feed table, and at the time whenthe clamp 42 is pivoted counterclockwise to release the tail of thefish, the outward movement of the control valve member openscommunication between pipe 142 and pipe 15'0 to deliver a blastoutwardly through the passage 152 and this blast serves to forciblyremove the skin from the drum and from over the end of the plate 39.

While I have disclosed such an air blast delivered through the end ofthe plate 39, it will be understood that various other means may beemployed to deliver the blast of air through the surface of the drum atone or more points adjacent to and rearwardly of the opening 46 in orderto remove the skin. Furthermore, other means for controlling thedelivery of the air blast may be provided, either coordinated with thepneumatic system which `operates the clamp 42, or a separate pipingsystem may be provided so that air from a separate source may beprovided to remove the skin.

Referring to Figure l0, the pneumatic control valve member 144 isnormally urged outwardly by a spring 156 which is held between the endwall of the drum and the connecting eye of a radially inwardly directedpin connected to the outer end of the valve member. This pin carries acam roller 162 which rides against cam aver/,41e

surfaces on the inner face of the main cam A, in order vto operate thepneumatic control valve as perhaps best shown in Figures 10, 11 and 19.

This auxiliary cam has a high portion 164 interrupted by low portion166. The high portion of this cam extends throughout the major part ofthe circular length thereof, and is so designed in timed relation Withthe action of the cam surfaces ltltl and 102 to cause the pneumaticvalve member to be moved and held inwardly as in Figure during theperiod when the gripping assembly is retracted inwardly while the fishis being carried past the Skinning station and up to the point where theassembly is again moved outwardly to release the tail of the fish.

The timed operations as previously referred to are shown successively inFigures l2 through 16. In Figure 12, the opening 46 is shown just as itapproaches the feed table E, and it will be observed that the main camroller 114 is on the low surface 102 of the main cam A, whereby spring93 acts to rock shaft 92 in order to displace the jaw assembly outwardlyso that the plate 39 protrudes beyond the periphery of the drum D. `Theend of this jaw passes through the recess 32` in the edge of the feedtable and engages the tail-end of the iish as shown. lust at thisparticular time, or shortly thereafter, the pneumatic valve operatingcam 162 rides up on the high surface 164 of the valve operating cam onthe inner face of the main cam member A, whereby the pneumatic systemoperates to close the clamp 42 against the plate 39 as in Figure 10.This condition of the parts is illustrated in Figure 13.

At any appropriate part of the cycle between the position of the drum asshown in Figure 13 and that shown in Figure 14, the main cam roller 114rides up on the high part 10ft' of the main cam, thus rocking shaft 92in a counterclockwise direction, resulting in the inward movement of theentire gripping assembly. Thus, the mechanical parts will be housedwithin the drum as the fish approaches the positioning guides G and theSkinning knife K. That portion of the flesh of the fish adjacent thetail is bent inwardly of the drum through about 90 and thus will bestretched and conditioned for presentaq tion to the cutting edge of thereciprocating knife, which can thereby effect a neat separation of thefiesh from the skin, as illustrated in Figure 15. Continuedcounterclockwise movement of the drum D carries the main cam roller 114-again to the low part 102 of the main cam, whereupon the action ofspring 93 again moves the gripping assembly outwardly as in Figure 16,and at the same time; the pneumatic valve cam 162 leaves the high part164 of its track, thus pivoting clamp 42 away from member 139 asillustrated both in Figures 16 and 11. At this time, exhaust air may bepermitted to discharge through the blast passage 152 in the jaw member39 to blow the denuded skin olf of the drum as illustrated in Figure 16.It will be apparent that the timing and arrangement of the parts aresuch that the above operations may be continuously repeated to skinsuccessive fish presented to the jaws on the feed table E.

The skinning knife assembly is shown in some detail in Figures 5 and 6.ln general, this mechanism comprises a knife carrier or block 170 having`a knife member 172 removably mounted therein. The knife member has acutting edge 34 as previously referred to. At its opposite ends, theblock 170 is adjustably pinned as at 174 to slidable holding members176, the latter members being mounted for limited reciprocating movementon a slide 178 fixed to a bracket 180 which, in turn, is integrallyconnected to extend inwardly from the fratrie members as shown in Figure6. Suitable straps 180 and 182 extend inwardly from at least one of theblocks 176, whereby the cutting edge of the knife, as presented towardthe drum, may be adjusted around the pivots 174 by the adjusting screws184. The members 176 are constructed to engage around and beneath theslide 178 by suitable retaining plates, as shown in Figure 2.

At one end of the machine, there is a pitman 18S pivoted to one of themembers 176. The outer end of this pitman is eccentrically connected toa disc 189 which is xed on a shaft 190 which, in turn, carries a pulley191 driven by a belt 192 from the main motor M. Belt 192 is driven froma pulley 194 mounted on a shaft extending from gear box 196, which, inturn, is operated by motor M.

With the above construction, the cutting knife may be properly adjustedwith respect to the drum. As a fish is carried past the knife byrotation of the drum and with the tail clamping means retracted, theknife will cleanly separate the flesh of the fish from the skin, theflesh passing over the knife as shown in Figure 15, being guided by abaffle plate 19S secured to the body portion 170 of the knife. Plate 193directs the separated flesh of the lish downwardly onto the conveyor L.

In order to further facilitate the separation of iiesh and skin, withoutcutting or tearing the latter from adhering relationship on the surfaceof the drum, a roller 2G@ may be provided to engage the denuded skinjust beyond the knife K. This roller is positioned so that its surfacecontacts that of the moving drum, and it is preferably positively drivenin a direction opposite to that of the drum and at the same surfacespeed as that of the drum. This roller is shown mounted in the frame ona shaft 2132 having an end collar portion 294 (Figure 7) held in guideopenings 206 in suitable strap members 208 secured to the frame of themachine, there being springs 2111 `at opposite ends of the shaft 262suitably housed to exert appropriate yieldable and adjustable pressureof the roller 200 against the surface of the drum.

The function of the roller 2110 is to assist in evenly ironing out andretaining the denuded iicsh of the iish against the rotating drum and toprevent it from being cut or torn and carried away with the iiesh of thefish. The action of this roller is to exert some forward tension on theskin, acting with the drum to pull the skin from the iiesh of the fish,the iiesh being held against downward movement by the cutting edge ofthe Skinning knife K. While the roller 200 may be positively driven incoordinated relation with the speed of the main drum, by anyconventional driving means (not shown) or at any regulated speed withrespect to the speed of turning of the drum, 1t may be yieldably mountedas an idler to be driven by the main drum while applying pressureagainst the denuded skin`and exerting a mild pulling tension thereon.This drum facilitates the clean removal of the flesh from the skin to asubstantial degree.

The guiding lingers G are of a type somewhat similar to those describedin my Patent No. 2,601,292, dated June 24, 1952, although they are ofincreased effectiveness as they act in combination with the knife andtail gripping clamps, as well as with the crowned drum. Referring toFigures 1, 2 and 18, there are spaced brackets 216 on opposite ends ofthe frame and extending inwardly toward the drum above the Skinningknife 1. Mounted between these brackets is a bearing rod 218, whichprovides a pivot for a plurality of guiding fingers, said fingers havingupper ends 220 above the pivot and lower ends 222 below the pivot. Thesefingers are positioned outwardly of the supporting rod 218 (Figure 2)but they have forwardly extending ears 224 with apertures therein toembrace the rod 21S. ln order 'to provide for ease of independentmovement of the respective guiding fingers around the pivot rod. 218,intermediate discs 226 may be provided on said rod between the fingers.

The upper ends 220 of said fingers are individually urged toward abacking plate 230 which extends across the frame of the machine spacedfrom the fingers, said plate being carried by rearwardly extendingbrackets 232 on the frame. The individual connection of each finger isby means of a spring 234 which may be adjusted in tension by a screw 236(Figure 2) which is threaded through the backing plate 230. The lowerportions 222 of the fingers terminate in outwardly curved pressureapplying ends 238, and these lower portions are covered by a flexibletaut rubber apron 240 of Neoprene or the like which is suspended andheld in smooth condition in front of the fingers by brackets 242 whichare likewise pivoted on the rod 218 adjacent opposite ends thereof. TheNeoprene or rubber apron is held in somewhat stretched condition on athree-way frame, as best shown in Figures 2 and 18, said framecomprising top and side plates with the rubber stretched therebetween.Thus, a more even yielding surface is presented to engage the fish.

It will be apparent from the above construction that as a fish iscarried downwardly toward the Skinning knife, tail-end first, it passesthrough and under the yieldable guiding fingers, and they serve tosmooth and press the fish at all points against the drum. Particularly,they smooth out the skin of the fish in adhering relation against thecrowned surface of the drum. The independent mounting of these fingerspermits themto assume the irregular shape of the fish as it passes thefingers, so that the aligning pressure action of these fingers isuniform throughout the contour of the fish, the fingers conformingthemselves to the shape of the fish. it will be obvious that theseyielding fingers serve to restrain the fish against lateral displacementon the drum as it is presented to the knife, and they also restrain thetrailing portion of the fish against sagging or bunching by gravity,which might cause creases or distortions in the fish and resultingdisruption or tearing of the skin by the knife.

The action of the fingers is further illustrated in Figure 17, and itwill be noted that the cylindrical exterior surface 250 of the drum isslightly and gradually crowned as at 252, it having been observed thatthe skin of a fish .is slightly thicker at the dorsal and ventral sides,as compared with the middle portion of the body of the fish. By thiscrowned construction, the line of cleavage between the flesh and skin ofthe fish is straightened out and evenly presented to the straightcutting edge of the knife, whereby a clean and neat separation of theflesh from the skin is effected.

Figures 2O and 2l are views which further illustrate how those skilledin the art may construct equipment for carrying out the invention. Inthis view, a modified main cam A is shown, comprising a plate having aconventional closed cam track 258 in its yface presented to the drum.This cam track is the same in design and timing as that previouslydescribed, and has an outer wall whereby cam rollers 260 and 260 for therespective rock shafts 92 are positively operated to rock shaft 92 inboth directions, in which case spring 93 may not be required. This maincam .is provided with an auxiliary air valve operating cam 264, 265which may be identical with cam 164, 166 previously `described indesign, timing and functions.

It will be apparent from the abo-ve description that my apparatus willcontrol the condition of the skin of the fish in a manner not possiblewith prior art apparatus which may bear a general similarity to myequipment. While rotating drums and flesh-removing knives have been usedin association with tail-gripping mechanisms, the results of the presentinvention were not attained with such apparatus because it lacked thefeatures of control of the fish and of its skin, as described herein.

The position of the knife and associated guiding fingers is important. Irely not only on gravity to hold the skin side of the fish firmlyagainst the crowned surface of the drum, but also upon the fingers whichexert force against all portions of the fish. These forces maintain thefish in position against both vertical and horizontal displacement andthey adjust themselves to the contour of the fish vertically as well ashorizontally. I am aware of the fact that belts and other means ofpressure have been previously suggested, but all such methods permittedthe flesh of the fish to bunch and the skin to wrinkle, and the 12 edgesof the fish were most often forced toward the center instead of beingspread and stretched outwardly into smooth condition.

The position of the knife in my apparatus is such as to utilize theforce of gravity to assist in separating the flesh from the skin. Also,the momentum of the fish in its path of travel will assist in theseparation when the knife releases the flesh from the skin permittingthe former to depart tangentially from the drum.

Obviously, there may be changes in the precise structure which l haveused herein for purposes of illustration. For example, Athe mechanicalmechanisms which I have disclosed, including the cams and associatedparts, may be replaced by other similar and equivalent mechanisms. WhileI have shown a preferred method for operating the fish-tail clamp,various equivalents might be substituted such as an electrical systememploying solenoids in place of the preferred air cylinders.

Many advantages are inherent in the equipment described herein and notfound in the prior art. For eX- ample, no moving parts are required onthe feed table, nor are special mechanisms needed to feed the fish tothe drum. It is unnecessary to stop the drum to feed a fish thereto.Appliances such as needles and the like which puncture the skin and theflesh are not utilized, and this assists materially to insure a cleanseparation of the flesh from the fish. At no point is the weight of thefish dragged by the skin so as to disrupt it. The tail-grippingmechanism does not employ pairs of jaws which are projected from thedrum. The single element which protrudes from the drum is the lowerclamping plate, with its clamping surface in a horizontal plane. Thepivoted clamp is maintained within the drum and out of the way tofacilitate feeding the fish to the drum, the pivoted clamp closing toproperly clasp the tail. The retractable tailgripping mechanism insuresthat the skin is held close against the drum, and the guiding fingersact from the tail toward the head of the fish to smooth the skin againstthe drum. These fingers act longitudinally of the fish and laterallythereof, to press and smooth the skin against the crowned surface of thedrum. A stretching action is effected from the tail outwardly in afan-like manner to stretch the fish smoothly over the crowned drum, andimmediately thereafter the knife severs the flesh from the skin at thetail end, continuing the separation throughout the body of the fish.

I claim:

l. The method of separating the flesh from the skin of a fish whichcomprises removing the bone and splitting the fish into halves in thedorsal-ventral place, bending the fish half longitudinally into arcuatecondition with its flesh side presented outwardly and supporting thefish half throughout its skinned side in the longitudinally bentcondition, independently applying to the flesh side of the fish half atspaced points yieldable inwardly directed pressures and relativelymoving the points of application of such pressures in lines upwardlyalong the fish half from its tail, whereby to stretch the skin of thefish half While it remains supported in bent condition, and immediatelythereafter exerting cutting action between the skin and the flesh of thefish half and relatively moving the point of application of such cuttingaction along the fish half from its tail whereby to separate the fleshfrom the stretched skin of the fish.

2. The method of separating the flesh from the skin of a fish whichcomprises removing the bone and splitting the fish into halves in thedorsal-ventral place, bending the fish half longitudinally into arcuatecondition with its flesh side presented outwardly and supporting thefish half throughout its skin side in the longitudinally bent condition,bodily pulling the fish half from its tail end and moving it in adownward orbital path having a center corresponding with that of thelongitudinal bend in the fish half while supporting the fish half fromits skin side, applying independent yielding and restraining forces in-Cil References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBarry Aug. 17, 1926 Bisset July 12, 1932 Lamere et al. Sept. 19, 1939Baader et al Sept. 17, 1940 Jensen July 21, 1953

